There Is No Paradise Where I Ran Away To (14 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 86

The railway between Perrington and Rottermond had opened. Susanna’s letter inviting him to visit Rottermond to see Charlotte, who had moved there for her wedding preparations, had been written with leisure in mind—precisely because the train now ran.

But Gideon hadn’t expected to feel so elated at the thought of seeing Charlotte.

Although the railway was now connected, Rottermond remained an undeveloped region, and thus there was nothing worth anticipating around the station.

Rottermond’s weather couldn’t exactly be called harsh. Compared to Perrington’s winters, its perceived temperature—mild enough to feel like an angel’s visitation—and its unfrozen ground were clear proof.

But the snow was the problem.

The train passing through Rottermond had to stop several times due to falling snow. It could only resume once the snowfall weakened, yet as it neared the station, the flakes grew thick again. The train, as if fearing it might be trapped once more by the snow, fled in panic.

Moreover, apart from station workers clearing the snow, there were no other passengers disembarking in Rottermond, leaving Gideon alone on the empty platform. Though it wasn’t a full-blown blizzard, he could still push through the snow somehow—it was just unbearably exhausting and difficult.

Yet the sole thought of seeing Charlotte erased all of Gideon’s fatigue.

Upon reaching the village, its residents were all sweeping snow without exception. They didn’t grumble about the falling snow as if it were a familiar, routine sight.

He had told his company he’d be away for three or four days, but the weather made even that seem uncertain. He should have paid closer attention when James had gone on at length about Rottermond’s winter. He now missed his cousin’s advice, which he’d dismissed with one ear while being too excited about seeing Charlotte.

Fortunately, thanks to the postal office having cleared its snow thoroughly, it was open. He stopped by to send a letter to his company, explaining he might be even later. Although they warned the letter might be delayed due to weather conditions, it would surely arrive faster than his return to Perrington.

By the time he’d finished all his errands in the village, the sun had already set. He’d arrived at the station early that morning on the dawn train, yet before he knew it, evening had nearly come.

With no choice, Gideon decided to spend the night in the village and headed toward the manor as soon as dawn broke.

Immediately upon arriving at the manor, he was led to the second floor where Duke Beitnes was, and there he also met the Baroness. Additionally, Vivian had come upon hearing the news, but Charlotte—the one he’d most anticipated and longed to see—was nowhere to be found.

“Charlotte hasn’t been feeling well for the past few days and has stayed in bed. I’ll go check on her condition and come back.”

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